Arsenal send AVB and Spurs into a ‘negative spiral’ – 18 years of hurt in quotes

AS Arsenal take fourth place in the Premier League ahead of arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur, we look back at the words of Spurs’ manager Andre Villas-Boas. Would Spurs undo 17 years of hurts and finally finish the season above Arsenal? Said AVB back in March 2013:

“The difference this year is that we are on an upward spiral in terms of confidence whereas they are in a negative spiral and once you get into that negative spiral it’s difficult to get out of it.”

While AVB wonders about his his side’s own negative spiral, we look back at some other comments of Spurs players who saw the rosy-fingered dawn only to realise it was the red of Arsenal disappearing over the horizon:

2013 – Gareth Bale:

“I think now we have overtaken them on the pitch.”

2013 – Emmanuel Adebayor:

“Last season at the last game of a tough race, you know what happened. We don’t want to commit the same mistake. For me it’s a big chance to show people I was right to leave Arsenal, which means finishing on top of them. If that’s with Tottenham even better.”

2011 – Peter Crouch:

“Arsenal are still ahead of us in the Premier League, but we are getting a lot closer — soon we will be above them in the league”

2010 – Rafael van der Vaart:

“Arsenal have a great team but our squad is not worse than Arsenal’s.”

2010 – Van der Vaart again:

“Can Arsenal finish above us? No. No chance. We’re better.”

2009 – Harry Redknapp:

“Arsène has done a great job there over the years. But we’re getting closer to them, without a doubt.”

2009 – Robbie Keane:

“If you look at the last four or five years, Arsenal always got ahead of us slightly, but if you look now, it’s certainly even. “And if you look at the squads, the bench we have is probably a little bit stronger than their bench.”

2008 – Jermaine Jenas:

“We can definitely overtake Arsenal next year.”

2007 – Darren Bent:

“Spurs are a club that are definitely going forward. There’s no reason why we can’t catch Arsenal, which is what makes this season coming so exciting.”